Hand gun bullet proof face shield

ABSTRACT

A protective face shield which consists of layers of high impact resilient plastic maintained in spaced relationship to each other by a metal frame so that a dead air space is provided between the layers incorporating various combinations of wall thickness and spacings employed to adapt the face guard to a specific application. The face shield is pivotally mounted in a unique manner on a rigid helmet and provides protection from .38 caliber and smaller bullets fired from hand guns at close range.

United States Patent [191 Gooding 1 Jan.7,1975

[ HAND GUN BUL LET PROOF FACE SHIELD [76] Inventor: Elwyn R. Gooding,120 Darwin Rd.,

Pinckney, Mich. 48169 [22] Filed: Apr. 16, 1973 211 Appl. No.: 351,656

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/10, 2/14 K [51] Int. Cl. A6lf 9/00 [58] Field of Search2/9, 2.5, 6, 8, 1O, 14 R, 2/14 B, 14 C, 14 H, 14 K [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,515,701 11/1924 Reeve 2/14 H 3,319,261 5/1967Dunning 2/9 3,668,705 6/1972 Garbisch 2/10 3,707,004 12/1972 Kapitan eta1. 2/2.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,190,765 5/1970 Great Britain 2/14 K533,291 9/1955 ltaly 2/10 Primary Examiner-Richard J. Scanlan, Jr.Attorney, Agent, or Firm01sen and Stephenson [5 7] ABSTRACT A protectiveface shield which consists of layers of high impact resilient plasticmaintained in spaced relationship to each other by a metal frame so thata dead air space is provided between the layers incorporating variouscombinations of wall thickness and spacings employed to adapt the faceguard to a specific application. The face shield is pivotally mounted ina unique manner on a rigid helmet and provides protection from .38caliber and smaller bullets fired from hand guns at close range.

5 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures Patented Jan. 7, 1915 3;sss,242

3 Sheets-Sheet l Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3.858. v

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Jan. 7, 1975 3.858.242

3 Sheets-Sheet 5 HAND GUN BULLET PROOF FACE SHIELD BACKGROUND OF THEINVENTION The present invention relates to a protective face shieldprimarily for policemen who in the pursuit of their normal duties areconfronted and fired upon often without warning at close range withsmall caliber hand guns. Heretofore, no face shields which can bereadily attached and detached from a helmet have been developed toafford the wearer the degree of protection to the face and head asneeded.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Bullet wounds to the face and head areextremely painful and are often fatal. In order to prevent such injuriesa face shield must stop a lead bullet up to size .38 caliber when firedfrom a hand gun at a distance of one foot. The face shield must notshatter as flying fragments would be dangerous to the eyes and facialtissue. To be effective the face shield must also provide excellentvisibility in various climatic conditions. In addition, such a faceshield must be readily attachable to and detachable from the helmet.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide aprotective face shield that remains optically clear at all times, can bequickly attached to or detached from a helmet and most importantly willstop caliber bullets fired from hand guns at close range. The shieldextends from the forehead portion of the helmet rearwardly to the sideportions of the helmet, depends therefrom to a position adjacent thechin of the wearer, and consequently substantially completely covers thewearers face.

It is another object of the invention to provide a means for pivotingthe face shield upward to a position overlying the top portion of thehelmet so that the face shield is out of the way when, for example, thewearer wishes to talk to another person.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a face shieldwhich will withstand and deflect high impact blows from clubs, bricks,bottles and other similar objects often encountered by law enforcementofficers during a riot.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial exploded view of one embodiment of the bulletproof shield assembly of this invention and a supporting helmettherefor;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the helmet of FIG. 1, illustratingthe transparent bullet proof face shield in lowered operative positionsubstantially completely covering the face of the wearer;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of the helmet of FIG. 1, illustratingthe bullet proof face shield in the raised position;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed partial side elevation view of a portionof the face shield of this invention;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a detail ofconstruction of the face shield of this invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a pictorial perspective view illustrating a modified form ofthe face shield of this invention, showing the shield in operativeposition on a helmet;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation of the helmet of FIG. 8 illustrating the faceshield in lowered operative position;

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the helmet of FIG. 8, illustrating theface shield in the raised position;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line llll ofFIG. 8; and

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 12I2 ofFIG. 8.

Referring to the drawings, FIG. I illustrates a helmet assembly 10adapted to be worn by a motorcycle patrolman, foot patrolman or thelike, although the invention is not limited thereto.

The helmet 10 per se does not form a part of the present invention,although it is desirable that it too be of bullet proof construction soas to further add to the protection of the wearer.

The transparent bullet proof face shield assembly, indicated generallyat 14, is curved to conform to the general shape of the foreheadportion13 of the helmet 10. The bullet proof face shield consists of twotransparent plastic panels 26 and 28 (FIG. 7) held in spacedrelationship by a spacer 30 of the same material as the panels. Thepanels are preferably formed of a high impact resistant polycarbonateknown as LEXAN. The panels and spacer are joined together with anadhesive so as to provide a liquid tight dead air space 27 between thepanels. The preformed curved panels 26 and 28 are assembled in a metalmounting frame 24 which is of channel shape in cross section.

The dead air space 27 between the outer panel 26 and the inner panel 28assures a fog free face shield during cold weather. However, the primaryfunction of the spacer 30 is to provide a space between the panels intowhich the outer panel 26 can flex inwardly upon the initial impact of abullet. The panel 26 can then flex back after the bullet has mushroomedupon impact with the inner panel 28 and thereby trap the spent bulletbetween the panels in the event the outer panel is pierced. Mountingbrackets 16 are attached to each side of the bullet proof face shieldnear the aft top edges for engagement with corresponding fastening pins18 mounted on opposite sides of the helmet 10.

In the lowered operative position of the shield 14, the edge frame 24 onthe aft edges of the face shield 14 engage generally Z-shaped brackets22 (FIGS. 4 and 7) attached to each side of the helmet 10 with frictionaction so as to remain engaged therewith until intentionally dislodged.

To position the bullet proof face shield 14 so as to remain in theraised position illustrated in FIG. 3, the face shield is grasped at thecenter lower edge, pivoted upward until the bracket 16 is in ahorizontal position, and then pushed toward the helmet for brackets l6to engage the end slots 42 therein with pins 40 which project from thehelmet as shown in FIG. 6.

The face shield 14 is quickly removable from the helmet 10. Startingwith the face shield in the raised position shown in FIG. 3, it is movedstraight forward until the pins 18 are at the rear of the slots 44, andthen lifting the face shield straight upward.

In the modified bullet proof face shield 14a, illustrated in FIGS. 8, 9,l0, l1 and 12, the supporting frame for the spaced panels is comprisedof a steel rod 48 covered with plastisol. Compound curved outer panel56, inner panel 58 and spacer 60 are bonded together to form a liquidtight dead air space 59 between the panels. The transparent bullet proofface shield is positioned within the steel frame 48 and secured in placewith a shaped thin metal moulding 50- that surrounds the frame 48.

Spring steel clips 52 attached to each side of the helmet retain theface shield when it is in the lowered operative position.

The modified face shield 14a is mounted on the helmet like the shield'14 is mounted, as described above.

It is to be understood that while face shields l4 and 14a are shown withtwo panels each, it is within the purview of this invention toincorporate additional panels in the shields.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination with a protective helmet, a bullet proof face shieldcomprising a pair of inner and outer transparent panels formed of highimpact resistant plastic and arranged in a face-to-face predeterminedspaced relation, spacer means maintaining said panels in said spacedrelation so that a dead air space is formed therebetween, said innerpanel being substantially thicker than said outer panel, said outerpanel being of reduced thickness relative to said inner panel to enablesaid outer panel to flex inwardly into said dead air space upon initialimpact of a bullet with said outer panel, said dead air space alsoproviding a space in between said panels into which a spent bulletpassing through said outer panel is trapped, encircling frame meanssupporting said panels, and means movably supporting said frame means onsaid helmet, said panels and said dead air space cooperating to form aballistic barrier capable of preventing the passage of small handgumbullets through said face shield.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said frame means is ofgenerally channel shape having said panels mounted therein.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said frame means comprisesa shaped rod.

4. The structure according to claim I wherein said means movablysupporting said frame means comprises brackets on said frame means andcoacting pin means on said helmet pivotally supporting said bracketmeans for movement of said face shield between lowered operativeand'raised inoperative positions, said brackets having slots inwhichsaid pin means are positioned, said slots being formed with an open endportion to enable detachment of said face shield from said helmet.

5. The structure according to claim 4 further including auxilliarycoacting pin and slot means on said helmet and said brackets operable toretain said shield in a raised position on said helmet, said slot meanshaving an open end portion to thereby enable said pin to engage withsaid slot means so that said face shield can be maintained in saidraised inoperative position.

1. In combination with a protective helmet, a bullet proof face shield comprising a pair of inner and outer transparent panels formed of high impact resistant plastic and arranged in a faceto-face predetermined spaced relation, spacer means maintaining said panels in said spaced relation so that a dead air space is formed therebetween, said inner panel being substantially thicker than said outer panel, said outer panel being of reduced thickness relative to said inner panel to enable said outer panel to flex inwardly into said dead air space upon initial impact of a bullet with said outer panel, said dead air space also providing a space in between said panels into which a spent bullet passing through said outer panel is trapped, encircling frame means supporting said panels, and means movably supporting said frame means on said helmet, said panels and said dead air space cooperating to form a ballistic barrier capable of preventing the passage of small handgum bullets through said face shield.
 2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said frame means is of generally channel shape having said panels mounted therein.
 3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said frame means comprises a shaped rod.
 4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein said means movably supporting said frame means comprises brackets on said frame means and coacting pin means on said helmet pivotally supporting said bracket means for movement of said face shield between lowered operative and raised inoperative positions, said brackets having slots in which said pin means are positioned, said slots being formed with an open end portion to enable detachment of said face shield from said helmet.
 5. The structure according to claim 4 further including auxilliary coacting pin and slot means on said helmet and said brackets operable to retain said shield in a raised position on said helmet, said slot means having an open end portion to thereby enable said pin to engage with said slot means so that said face shield can be maintained in said raised inoperative position. 